Page 94 of Ruby Malice

I start to answer for him.Of course he isn’t here. This is just a dream.But Ilya nods. “I see him.”

Rayne looks around the room slowly. “I don’t see him. I see you, me, and Kirill. Do you see Kirill?”

Ilya is looking at me, but for the first time since I walked into his room, my little brother islookingat me. Finally, he smiles. “Kirill.”

It’s the warm reception I’m used to. His smile, his sparkling green eyes. Without thinking, he stumbles up and away from the wall and gives me a hug.

And that’s it.

Rayne came into Ilya’s room and did what I couldn’t. She calmed him down. She helped him.

I smooth my hands down Ilya’s back, offering a reassuring pressure as he continues to breathe and unclench. Once he’s completely relaxed, I get him settled back into bed.

He reaches for Rayne before she can leave. When she offers her hand, he squeezes it and drags her close. Closer and closer. I can tell Rayne is nervous, but her smile never wavers. Then Ilya slowly lifts his hand and points to her eyes. “Ocean,” he breathes.

Rayne chuckles and pats his hand. “Goodnight, Ilya.”

I’ve never introduced a woman to Ilya. Technically, I didn’t even introduce Rayne. She keeps finding her way up here when she isn’t supposed to.

But I can’t find it within myself to care.

Because Ilya likes her. That much is plain to see. It’s obvious that she likes him, too, in a way that’s far above and beyond her duties. Sonya cares for Ilya, but she treats him like a chore. She’s a dedicated worker and she’ll always do her job, but she isn’t emotionally attached. But Rayne… She has no reason to be so kind to Ilya. No reason to care.

And yet she does.

Rayne leaves the room. I wave to Ilya one last time. “Goodnight,sobrat.” He settles into the blankets, and I pull the door closed.

Last time we were both up here, I dragged Rayne out of the apartment and down the stairs. This time, I follow her out, brooding.

She seemed fine in Ilya’s room, but once we’re in the hallway, she starts tugging at the hem of my shirt like she wishes it was longer.

She looks back over her shoulder meekly. “There wasn’t enough time,” she explains.

“There would have been plenty of time if you’d done what I told you to do.”

She stops and faces me. “If I’d listened to you, you’d be dealing with a full-on freak-out.”

“My brother is not a freak,” I growl.

“I know he’s not! I never said he—I didn’t mean it like that,” she snaps, blowing out a breath to try to calm down. “You know what I mean. I helped him.”

She isn’t wrong, but I don’t like the implication. “I’ve been taking care of my brother for a lot longer than you’ve been around. I know how to help him.”

“That’s what everyone keeps saying, but he seems… he seems different with me. Doesn’t he? Is he? Am I crazy for thinking that?”

“I can’t imagine that you give a shit what I say. You’re the know-it-all who keeps barging into places where you don’t belong.”

Rayne frowns. “Don’t be like this.”

“Like what?”

She gestures vaguely to me. “Likethis.Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. There’s a reason you sent me up here to clean his apartment. What is it?”

Because Ilya remembered your name.

Because he had an immediate connection to you, and he hasn’t done that with anyone since the day our father broke him.

“Because you were the only maid stupid enough to disobey a direct order and go upstairs,” I snarl instead. “And since you already knew what was up there, I decided you could help Sonya out. She’s been bearing the burden for too long.”

---